4 DAYS - 3 NIGHTS ESSENTIAL SAPA

4 DAYS - 3 NIGHTS ESSENTIAL SAPA 
Private tour (HANDHES4): Daily departure from Hanoi hotels with locally stationed English speaking guide.

This journey combines the best of the unique mountain area of Sapa. The highlights include accommodation at a unique mountain lodge, remote walks along beautiful terraced rice fields with spectacular view of Hoang Lien Son, a stretch of Himalaya mountain range, visit the ethnic minority villages and explore Sapa town, the old French Hill Station. 
Day 1 : HANOI – LAO CAI    (-/-/-)

Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi at around 20:00 hrs and transfer to Hanoi train station.

Overnight train trip to Lao Cai in shared sleeping compartments (sharing with other passengers in 2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment). Train departs at approximately 21:15 hrs.

Notes:
• Our tour guide will not accompany during the train trip
• Train schedule is subject to change.
• Private compartments on request at surcharge.
• Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience.
• Victoria Train is on request at surcharge
Meals included: None

Day 2 : LAO CAI – SAPA – TOPAS ECOLODGE AND SURROUNDING (B/-/-)

You arrive early in the morning in Lao Cai, a border town to China. Here you meet your driver and he will take you directly to the hilltop of Topas Ecolodge at the elevation of 1000m. The drive takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Upon arrival at Topas Ecolodge you will have breakfast while enjoying a 360 degree mountain view.

At 9h30, you will start your walk into local area and experience the daily life of Red Dao minority people of Lech village. Walking through rice paddy terraces gives you many opportunities to enjoy the magnificent valley view with rivers and local colorful farmers. In the village you will experience daily life while visiting a local house and here learn how minority women still master the old skill of embroidery. From the village, you walk back to the lodge.

The rest of the day is at your leisure, enjoy a good book and coffee in your bungalow or continue exploring the local area on your own. The night is spent in your own private bungalow with a view of the valley and the surrounding mountains.

Approx: Grade 2 of 5/ 3 hours walking

Overnight at Topas Ecolodge

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3: TOPAS ECOLODGE SURROUNDINGS – SAPA – LAO CAI – NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI (B/L/-)

 Wake up in the quiet mountain setting, breakfast is waiting and you can enjoy it from the lodge terrace few meters from the rice fields. You check out and at 9h30 AM and the driver is waiting to transfer you to the starting point of this second walk.

Today you will start out by crossing Muong Hoa River by a local bridge and continue walking along the rice paddies again on a route far from most other travelers. This is the area of the two minority groups of Giay and Black H’mong. Soon you will see the big difference in customs and traditions, where Giay prefer to dress in colorful silk whereas Black H’mong produce their indigo colored hemp wear themselves. Your good lunch will be served in a local village restaurant.

Approx: Grade 2 of 5/ 2 hours walking, 45min driving.

After lunch the car is ready to take you to the historical Sapa town famous for its minority market and old French colonial church. Your guide is happy to show you around the town but you can also choose to explore it by yourself. The shuttle bus is leaving at 5h00 PM back to Lao Cai for the overnight train.

Overnight on train, departs at around 20:15 hrs (shared sleeping compartments, sharing with other passengers in 2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment).

Notes:
• Our tour guide will not accompany during the train trip
• Train schedule is subject to change.
• Private compartments on request at surcharge.
• Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience.
• Victoria Train is on request at surcharge

Optional: Extension one or more nights including breakfast and one dinner at Topas Ecolodge (Deluxe bungalow room). Using Topas Ecolodge’ shuttle bus to Sapa town next day.

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel
Lunch in village

Day 4 : HANOI – ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE  (-/-/-)
Early morning arrival in Hanoi at approximately 06:00 hrs. Transfer to your hotel (accommodation in Hanoi is not included) or to Hanoi / Noi Bai International Airport at surcharge.

Meals included: None
“WE WISH YOU AN ENJOYABLE JOURNEY”

OUR TOUR PRICES ARE INCLUSIVE OF
• Accommodation in shared twin room at Topas Ecolodge
• Meals as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner
• Tours with local English-speaking guides in private air-conditioned vehicles
• Roundtrip Joint transfer Lao Cai - Sapa
• Return train ticket Hanoi – Lao Cai in shared 4-berth compartment with air-conditioning
• All entrance fees and permits as mentioned in the programme
NOT INCLUDED ARE
• Optional tours
• Surcharges for other language guides
• Surcharges for night-time services, especially applied for transfers with arrivals after 23:00 hrs and arrivals or departures before 05:00 hrs.
• Surcharges for Lunar New Year (TET) holiday
• Personal travel insurance
• Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.
• Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme
• Drinks with meals
• Compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak season surcharges which will be advised at the time of booking
• Visa application and visa stamp fees at Vietnamese embassies overseas and/ or upon arrival (Please note that a visa is compulsory for most nationalities.)
• Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme

CANCELLATIONS
• Refunds will not be given for unused or cancelled services after the tour arrangements have commenced.

• FIT (Individuals): Cancellation charges are calculated from the day the written notification is received by the company or agent as a percentage of the net total tour price as shown plus any surcharges (e.g. ticketed air sectors, other penalties imposed by suppliers such as hotels):
• Between 29- 21 days before departure:  According to the costs incurred will be charged
• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 25% of package price
• Between 14 days and 8 days prior to departure: 50% of package price
• Between 07 days and 2 days prior to departure: 75% of package price
• 1 day prior to departure or no show:   100% of package price

• GIT (Groups): Cancellation of tours due to minimum number of participants will be advised 6 weeks before departure of the tour; in which case Happy Go Travel will offer an alternative tour of a similar standard or a full refund. Cancellation policy for GIT bookings will be advised separately case by case.

• HOTEL ONLY
• Between 29- 21 days before departure:  no charge
• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 60% of accommodation price
• Between 14 days and 0 days prior to departure: 100% of accommodation price

• Certain Hotels impose stricter cancellation policies which will be advised separately.
PLEASE NOTE
• For air ticket reservations, we require the guests’ full names AS THEY APPEAR IN THEIR PASSPORTS. Airfares and reservations are always subject to change until paid in full and ticketed.
• Airfares are subject to increase without prior notice.
• Please be advised that prices will be adjusted periodically in case of fuel price increase by our suppliers.
• This is a quotation only and neither reservations for services nor hotel bookings have been made.
• Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.

CONTACT INFORMATION OF HAPPY GO TRAVEL
HAPPY GO TRAVEL - HANOI HEAD OFFICE:
Address:  5th floor,  130F Thai Thinh str, Trung Liet, Dong Da,  Hanoi, Vietnam
Telephone during office hours:  +84 24 32 686 686; +84 24 32 898 898
Fax:  +84 24 32 171 783

EMERCENCY CONTACTS (ENGLISH AND GERMAN-SPEAKING)
Mobile: Mr. Thang (Managing Director) (+84) 934556056

IMPORTANT NOTICE
 Certain parts of the tours on offer are provided by independent third parties, such as airlines, hotels, transport operators and local tourist offices. Happy Go Travel is therefore not responsible for any loss, injury or damage caused thereby to the tourists, including those occurring outside of the normal touring programmes. Additional expenses incurred due to delay, accident, natural disaster, political actions and unrest shall be borne by the tourists.
 Programmes, prices, services and conditions are based on those valid at the time of proposal submission and are subject to change thereafter without advance notice until all services have been paid in full.
 We strongly advise to leave valuable items (money, passport, credit cards, jewellery, sensitive documents, laptop computer, etc.) in the hotel safe. During excursions and roundtrips, personal belongings, especially money and valuables should NEVER be left on vehicles, even during short breaks, and carried around at all times. Happy Go Travel is not responsible for any loss or theft.
 Vietnam being a developing country is in full process of upgrading its infrastructure. Therefore, driving overland can be cumbersome due to ongoing road constructions.

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